By-Laws & Constitution

BY-LAWSof the
MINNESOTA NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB

ARTICLE I – NOMINATION, ELECTION AND INSTALLATIONSection 1. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the members present at the final meeting of the club year.Section 2. Candidates for office shall be selected by a Nomination Committee. The Nomination Committee shall be appointed by the President at least two meetings in advance of the final meeting of the club year. The slate of officers shall be published in the Newsletter one month prior to the final meeting of the club year.Section 3. The Nomination Committee shall consist of members of the club who are not officers of the club.Section 4. Floor nominations may be made providing previous agreement of nominees has been obtained.Section 5. Newly elected officers shall be installed at the final meeting of the club year and shall assume the duties of their respective offices on the first day of the following month.Section 6.A transition meeting between the outgoing and incoming Executive Board shall be held prior to the first meeting of the club year unless the all officers are the same.

ARTICLE II – DUTIES OF OFFICERSSection 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the club and of the Executive Board; shall appoint the Chair of all Committees and function as an ex-officio member of these committees; shall, when properly authorized by the club or Executive Board, sign all written contracts or obligations of the club; may officially represent the club at meetings of other organizations; shall carry on the duties of the President in such a way as to promote the effective operation of the club; and shall be the custodian of club records and archives.Section 2. The Vice-President shall preside at the monthly meeting during the absence of the President or during a vacancy in that office; shall be a member of the Executive Board and ex-officio member of all committees. The Vice-President shall serve as Program Chair in charge of monthly competitions and programs.Section 3. The Treasurer shall be a member of the Executive Board and shall preside at the monthly meeting whenever the President and Vise-President are both absent; act as custodian of all club funds; shall collect dues and keep accurate records of current paid members; shall provide a membership list to officers and committees as required; shall pay bills as directed by the President or Executive Board; shall keep an account of all receipts and expenditures; shall make an annual report to the Executive Board on the condition of the treasury; shall keep club funds in a bank approved by the Executive Board; and shall submit records for audit as required by the Executive Board.Section 4. The Editor shall be a member of the Executive Board and shall preside at the monthly meetings whenever the President, Vice- President, and Treasurer are all absent. The Editor shall edit and publish the Minnesota Nature Photography Club Blog and post it in advance of the meetings.Section 5. The Secretary shall be a member of the Executive Board and shall preside at the monthly meeting whenever the President, Vise- President, Treasurer and Editor are all absent; shall keep the minutes of meetings of the Executive Board and shall keep and be custodian of these records.

ARTICLE III – COMMITTEESSection 1. The President shall appoint the Chairs of all Committees.Section 2. The members of the Committees shall be selected by their respective chairperson.Section 3. The President shall appoint Special Committees as needed.

ARTICLE IV – DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARDSection 1. It shall be the duty and function of the Executive Board to carry on the routine business and to guide the activities of the club.Section 2. The Executive Board shall meet at the call of the President, or at the request of any three members. The Executive Board shall meet at least once every 60 days during the club year. All major activities of all committees shall be approved by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE V – MEMBERSHIPSection 1. Applicants for membership shall pay the equivalent of one year’s dues in advance. Dues shall be established through action of the Executive Board.Section 2. Members who have not paid their dues by the third meeting of the club year shall be dropped from the membership list and lose all club benefits.Section 3. The Executive Board may cancel any membership for cause.Section 4.Termination of membership shall operate to eliminate all privileges of the club.

ARTICLE VI – TERMS OF OFFICESection 1. Officers of the club shall hold office for one year.Section 2. The President and Vice-President shall not serve more than two consecutive years.

ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at any regular club meeting following notification to members of intended changes.

Adopted 2/1956 — Restated 2/1984 — Amended 2/11/85 — Adopted 5/1996

CONSTITUTION
of the
MINNESOTA NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB

CLUB ARTICLE I – NAMESection 1. The name of this organization shall be the Minnesota Nature Photography Club.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSESSection 1. Founded in 1956 as The Nature Camera Club, its purposes are: evaluation of members photography; continuing education in the art, science and technique of nature photography; appreciation and enjoyment of the outdoors; promotion of environmentally responsible activities and fellowship. The club is affiliated with the Photographic Society of America (PSA) and the Twin Cities Area Council of Camera Clubs (TCACCC).

ARTICLE III – NATURE PHOTOGRAPHYSection 1. The current consolidated Exhibition Standards for nature photography of the Photographic Society of America shall be used to define nature photography for the Minnesota Nature Photography Club.

ARTICLE V – MEETINGSSection 1. Regular meetings shall be held at such times and in such places as may be decided by the Executive Board.Section 2. Special meetings may be called at any time by the President or by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VI – OFFICERSSection 1. The officers of this club shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Editor and Treasurer. The Executive Board may create additional officers as vacancies or the need arises.

ARTICLE VII – EXECUTIVE BOARDSection 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers and the immediate past President. At the discretion of the Executive Board or President additional persons may be invited to attend board meetings in an advisory, non-voting capacity. At the discretion of the Executive Board an additional person may be invited to serve on the board in a voting capacity.

ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEESSection 1. Committees shall be established by the Executive Board as required to carry out the purposes of the club.

ARTICLE IX – FISCAL YEARSection 1. The fiscal year (club year) shall be established by the Executive Board and shall begin on the first day of the month following the election of officers.Section 2. The election of officers shall be held at the final meeting of the club year.

ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTSSection 1. The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at any regular club meeting following notification to members of intended changes.